Thurs. Dec. 14, 2006 -- "This is the day which the Lord has made..."

[Theodora]

"...let us rejoice and be glad in it."

This was one of my Grandmother's favorite Bible verses...but one which not infrequently had the effect of backfiring on my mood of the moment. (I had rheumatic fever as a child and was homebound for some time and she cared for me during that time...and later.) I also remember her singing "What a friend we have in Jesus" as she worked around the kitchen....again a song which STILL sets my teeth on edge (as do some other hymns/"praise songs" of that vintage)...and it's curious to think where and how some things which are MEANT to encourage can have just the opposite effect.

Or...what about the Bible verse...."In everything give thanks....".... WHAT?? You've GOT to be kidding? Is this some sort of "Pollyanna-ism" that, no matter what we're having to endure, we should play the "glad game" and figure out where and how we CAN still be thankful? To some extent, this seems to negate the totality of the human experience...and for that reason, some of my favorite Bible verses have been things like "To everything there is a season..." or many of the Psalms which may START with the "out of the depths have I cried unto thee...." but THEN work through to a renewed affirmation of God's presence through it all...and it is for THAT that we can then truly "give thanks!"

Today, Hornblower will be at the hospital with her husband, who will be undergoing surgery and for whom she has asked for prayers. Today, Amber's family will be working through their concerns for her father, who may be facing renewed chemotherapy in the new year. Today, Spinninghead is in considerable distress over many issues of rejection and pain. Today, Janice is probably at work again, after her long treatments of chemotherapy--a joy to have her this much recovered...but also, how HARD it must be to need to be at work while still in the healing process. Today, there are those among us whose pain may be too great to express at the moment. I offer prayers for all.

AND, today...I am remembering the premature death of my nephew Douglas, who was killed in a car accident on this date in 1997, just about a month before his father, my brother Lloyd, would die of cancer--ALSO SUCH a "premature" death!--in 1998. With my nephew, the indirect word was that he had been drinking---or was under the influence of something---when the accident happened. With my brother, his health was also affected by his use of alcohol...but, ultimately,the smoking which resulted in his having lung cancer. And my heart is sad with all the "what if's" of our family life of the past....and now, of the present. Is there NO way to "rescue" those we love now from these "clear and present dangers?"

"In everything give thanks".....Can we give thanks for the remembrance of the sad times of our lives, even as we work to live out the lessons we have learned there?

May we, in this day of ever-increasing "challenges" and knowledge of so-much pain and sorrow in the world, remember to focus on what is important in our lives, and in the lives of those we love, and to keep the faith, as best we can.

Grace and peace to you all this day....

Theodora